Page 22 - link magazine

22 Local Lives

The Black Homeland of Transkei

A description of a year in Africa by Owen Senior of Shaw

One month ago I returned from When I first walked through the I also taught Scouts, filled in les-
PROPERTY Transkei where I had lived and corridors, hearing the singing, and sons and showed educational vid-
worked for a year - where I had a met the children, noting their dis- eos. Video lessons were an insight
SERVICES home, not just accommodation. For abilities, my reaction was one of into the outside world for children
ALL TYPES OF PROPERTY newsworthiness I could have writ- wonder and pity. Both of these who spent their school-life board-
URGENTLY REQUIRED ten this just after I returned, describ- changed. The last thing the children ing and all their home life in a rural
ing my initial reactions to Britain: want is pity, they are forever work- environment. In my spare time I
FOR PRIVATE OR COMPANY
"It's so green, so clean ... and so ing to become as independent as taught table-tennis, A-level equiva-
LETS IN THIS AREA
wealthy!" However I'm glad that possible. When a child's crutches lent maths and singing - not my
84 Victoria Road Swindon I'm writing this after reintergrating slip and she crashes to the ground, strong point! My maths students
and after a debriefing course n.m by no-one runs to help. Teachers stand from the surrounding area strug-
Tel: (0793) 430526 the charity I went with, as this puts by to watch her gather her crutches, gled in groups of 120. One maths
the year in perspective. crawl to the wall and ease herself student took food and medicine to
Transkei is one of the black home- slowly to her feet. This seemed cruel his ill teacher so she would return to
FOR A MAINTENANCE lands set up in South Africa to at first, now I know it is appreciated the classroom. Again Isaw the strug-
FREE HOME 'cleanse' the white nation. It is the by the children themselves. gle for education.
homeland for the Xhosa people and
a landmark of Apartheid from its
1976 independence onwards - inde-
pendence recognised by South Af-
FASCIAS rica alone. It has many problems
including large scale soil erosion,
CLADDING
overgrazed land, a breakdown of
SOFFITS
family structures due to men work-
GUTTERING
ing away in the mines, TB, polio and
WINDOWS
malnutrition.
KINGFISHER In the face of such suffering
INSTALLATIONS Transkeins are remarkably happy. I
FREE QUOTATIONS saw this specifically by working at
Tel: 643866 day Ikhwezi Lokusa, a school for the
877161 eve. physically handicapped.

Children from Ikhwezi Lokuza School at an assembly
following their return from a sports event
ERMIN So what did I do? I was a science
The culture is complex with strong
teacher to two standard 2 groups traditions concerning initiation into
WINDOWS aged around 12 and two standard 3 manhood, headmen and taking of
groups. Science is usually taught in wives. Learning about these tradi-
a very traditional manner whereas tions showed me that ours is not the
volunteers believe that science is only way of looking at life, nor are
about discovery - so I did experi- our values the only set. The tradi-
ments and nature trails. The chil- tions are being eroded as people
dren's feedback made it all worth- abandon beliefs in ancestors, little
while. They know how lucky they men and traditional medicine in fa-
are to get an education and work vour of Christianity. Whether it is
right or wrong depends on your
hard - really hard.
The only tears I ever saw were viewpoint.
For conservatories and windows in uPVC over work. I will never forget one
Some people have complimented
evening hearing a knockon the door. me on giving my year to charity.
or aluminium with hardwood surround
The standard 3 girl who entered This is unrealistic. The children of
was crying because, she said, she Ikhwezi and people of Transkeigave
had been 'very silly'. She had writ- me back ten-fold what I gave them.
ten her science notes in her science I would adviseany 17/18 yearold to
homework book which was obvi- consider a year abroad before uni-
ously a punishable offence. I never versity - not only does it open doors,
used the stickand thechildren knew it opens your mind.

this, so she and others were never I amavailable for free slide-shows
crying out of fear, only out of disap- in the area, phone me on 771297.

pointment with themselves. Do we Owen starts at Southampton Uni-

value our education so highly? versity in early October.
nk Centre Chant'
Call Brian Smith .ober. vember
SWINDON 824419 ains galore at stalls arranged by44ar 'of commu
roups at the monthly charitymar
87a Ermin Street, Stratton St. Margaret Swindon.
ephone the Link Centre on